| Abstract | The study sought to develop a computer-based, on-line, interactive information system geared to satisfying the admissions data processing and admissions information requirements of an academic institution. The subject of the case study was the Asian Institute of Technology Admission Office. Applications to AIT can give two choices for field of study and almost all apply for different levels of AIT scholarships. Major functions of the admission system are:
- process new Applications for Admission and Supporting documents
- acknowledge applications and supporting documents
- process results of initial and final evaluation on applications
- prepare notifications to applicants (offers and rejects)
- process acceptances/declines of offers
- accept on-line queries to the data base
- generate statistical, control and management reports
- perform data base maintenance
Data entry is in interactive mode via terminal. The conversational of the system is geared towards inexperienced users.
The systems maintains four master files and five table files. The master files used b the system include an Application Master File, Application Statistics File, an Application ID Number File, and a Country Master File. These are all on disk, using the VSAM file organization.
Major reports and output include: Admissions Checklist/Summary Worksheet, Application Statistics, Offer of admission on Internal Scholarships, Internal Scholarships Costing Report, Interview Checklist, Applicants' Profile for the Term, Acknowledgements, Offers of Admission, Notices of Scholarship Award and Reject Letters. Visual displays for answering on-line queries include: individual applicant data, applicant names of selective basis, number of applications on selective basis and list of current table file contents for possible updates. The system is written in PL/I using IBM 3031 and running under VM IPO/E. Hardware includes 3278 display terminal, 3340 disk drive, and line printer.
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